5 Perspective Shifts from Japanese Culture

Because Western Hustle Culture is Killing Us

Photo by Sora Sagano on Unsplash

When I say ‘Western hustle culture is killing us,’ I don’t say it lightly. Incidence of burnout is constantly rising, and long-term stress-related employee sickness is following the same trajectory.

We really do need a culture shift.

With that said, there is probably no ideal culture to follow – they all have their good and bad traits in the mix.

I’ve chosen Japanese culture as my inspiration for a healthier approach to life. But in Japan too, there are extremes to be avoided.

You might have heard of Karochi- meaning death by overworking.

This truly excessive approach to getting the work done by any means, leads to Japanese employees dying of strokes, heart attacks, and sometimes suicide due to work pressure.

Any culture can have a dark side, so take it all with a grain of salt.

I’m picking just the positives from a culture I admire. But I’m going to leave Karoshi exactly where I found it.

Wabi-sabi

I love this concept. It reminds me a little of the British wartime vibe of ‘make do and mend.’